Experimental folding and boudinage under pure constrictional conditions

Constrictional folds are characterized by true fold-axis parallel extension if the rock-volume does not vary during deformation. Studies of such folds in experiments, using plasticine layers of different apparent viscosity and power-law exponent, clearly indicate that fold-axis parallel stretch may be accompanied by plastic elongation as well as boudinage of the competent layer. Characteristic aspects of the experimentally folded competent layers are: (1) coeval development of folds and boudins; (2) layer thickness not changing during deformation; (3) layer-parallel shortening in sections perpendicular to the fold (stretching) axis; (4) enlargement of the initial thickness of the competent layer results in increasing fold wavelength and decreasing number of boudins. The ratio of dominant wavelength to layer thickness of the constrictional folds can be described mathematically approximately by the equation developed for plane strain folding of power-law materials